Team Taiwan Roller Derby

What a tiny island nation taught me about speaking up Playing my sport on the world stage is an unforgettable experience in itself, but something else took me by surprise: how much people cared about our story.

If you noticed I got quieter for a bit, it's because I was in Austria for the Roller Derby World Cup!

Skating on the world stage was monumental in itself, but what really took me by surprise? How much people cared about Team Taiwan's story. Read about it: www.theradicalmarketer.com/what-a-tiny-...

Team Taiwan jammer Miso Thorny squeezing through the pack, with overlaying text “Donate and help us get to Innsbruck!” and the Team Taiwan Roller Derby logo.

The Roller Derby World Cup is just one month away, and we’re gearing up for long flights and tough opponents!

Your donations help us with travel, lodging, and other expenses that come with outfitting a whole team for their first-ever tournament!

Donate here: ttrd.betterworld.org/donate

When she isn't getting her buns in your way on the track or working at her silly little computer job, you can probably find Rebel making food puns, crafting at home, surrounded by her collection of plants, and periodically answering the demands of her two small and adorable, but bossy, dogs.

Playing on Team Taiwan holds a lot of meaning for Rebel: "When I first started skating, I'd be lucky to be in a league with one other Asian or POC skater, and growing up, Taiwan was never represented on the world stage—so to be on a team with other skaters repping Taiwan is amazing!"

Meet our team! Born out of a love of Billy Idol and roller skating, ✨Rebel Yellow✨ started her derby career in Baltimore at Charm City, then played with Atlanta Roller Derby's Dirty South Derby for 12 years. She now skates with the Bellingham Roller Betties after coming out of retirement.

"Growing up in Kitimat means that I grew up in a predominantly European community, and my family was half white, which left me with a disconnect from my Asian heritage. ...It means the world to me to be able to show up with other Asian skaters."

Dàbāo wants you to know you should "rinse your rice!"

...(a tribute to her favorite childhood show, Rainbow Brite) but realized that "you can't be a rainbow when you dress in all black!" and quickly shifted to something more befitting her personality.

Off the track, this Big Bun from Northern BC is a foodie, personal trainer, and hairstylist...

MEET OUR TEAM! ✨Dàbāo✨ (大包) is a blocker/pivot who is obsessed with all things bao. You can often find her snacking on the bench between halves on a 菠蘿包 (bolo bao) or 椰絲包 (coconut bun). She began her derby career four years ago under the name "Rainbow Brute"...

...whom you'll find eating, working out, and baking snacks. Dàbāo likes to stay active in the offseason with slo-pitch and running.

As a first-generation Canadian with family connections to Hong Kong, Dàbāo is so honored to be able to stand with Team Taiwan in the World Cup as one of our skaters.

Want to support Team Taiwan Roller Derby as we prepare to head to Innsbruck... just by shopping?!

We get a % from any gift cards you buy via the RaiseRight platform! You can use them to shop online, or even pay for everyday expenses!

Sign up here:

Outside of roller derby, you can find Suge hanging out in the kitchen cooking something delicious, curling up with a book, or pushing herself physically with general fitness or hiking! 

Suge thinks it's important that the world remembers "NO ONE IS ILLEGAL."

Suge is excited to continue skating, learning, and building with @tragiccityrollers: "It's always fun to play against teams you're familiar with, but I'm excited to play against some new teams as well this season." Suge is also deeply honored to be able to represent her culture with Team Taiwan.

Meet our team! ✨Suge Fight✨ #22 is a blocker who has played roller derby since January 2006. How has she stayed motivated for almost 20 years?! "The evolution of derby... competition and athleticism has been challenging, and exciting. No matter how long you've played, you're always still learning."

Sally Slaughter #44 coined the name Suge Fight to encompass Suge's love for hip-hop music, while dividing her own number in half. Sally's memory lives on in Suge's derby career, and she continues to honor their friendship by proudly sporting the name and number given to her.

Team Taiwan skater Shaolin Spocker wearing a “Powered By Boba” crop tee, designed by fellow Team Taiwan skater Miso Thorny

Have y’all seen our merch?! We have stickers, shirts, even boba cups (?!) featuring our Taiwanese Brown Bear mascot, Boba, designed by our very own teammate, Miso Thorny!

Support the team and get a shirt like Spocker’s here: team-taiwan-roller-derby.printify.me/product/1755...

While Spocker had previously stepped back from being a derby skater, "Playing for Team Taiwan was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Taiwan's independence has been a fraught issue for so many years, and opportunities to represent Taiwan are rare—it's just an honor to have the chance to do it here."

Outside of derby, Spocker is an entrepreneur who owns a website and online marketing agency, and she also offers personal training services. Fitness is her jam! She's excited to scrimmage more regularly this season, and also play roller derby with new folks and old friends.

Shaolin Spocker's name is a play on her favorite Star Trek character (Spock) and the movie Shaolin Soccer by Stephen Chow--she wanted a derby name that called back to her martial arts experience. Wushu was the first sport she truly enjoyed, and it gave her the strength and confidence to join derby.

Shaolin Spocker #1701 of Rose City Rollers, member of Team Taiwan Roller Derby World Cup 2025 Training Team

Meet Our Team! ✨Shaolin Spocker✨ #1701 is a pivot/utility skater who played roller derby for 9.5 years, before retiring a few short months before the COVID-19 pandemic, later returning as a skating official in 2022. You can find her on the track with her home league, @rosecityrollers.bsky.social .

Miso feels "Taiwan's culture is a great reflection of roller derby's generally accepting and inclusive community, and I value both."

Outside of derby, you can find Miso illustrating and teaching preschool. She wants everyone to know that Taiwan is a great place to visit!

Miso's love for the roller derby community and the continuous opportunities for growth keep Miso coming back to the sport, even after taking time off to have three babies! This season, Miso Thorny is focusing on learning more strategy and is very excited to represent Taiwan.

Miso Thorny #29 of Texas Rollergirls, member of Team Taiwan Roller Derby World Cup 2025 Training Team

Meet Our Team! ✨Miso Thorny✨ #29 started her career in 2013 as "Miso Corny" due to her nature as a corny science teacher with a love for food. Upon joining @texasrollergirls.bsky.social , a teammate mentioned her shoulders were like daggers... thorny daggers... turning her into "Miso Thorny."

Outside of derby, you can find Flash writing poetry, investing in decolonial Asian solidarity movements, and focusing on the liberation struggles in Sudan, Taiwan, and Palestine.

Flash is excited to help Team Taiwan get off the ground, and she has cherished having Taiwanese community in derby.

She has discovered that "the social aspect of being on a team is intoxicating and keeps me motivated in ways I never thought possible." It makes sense to her that the only sport she has ever gotten into is one with queer punk feminist roots. She loves how body-, age-, and gender-inclusive derby is.

StreetFLASHer #4 of Blue Ridge Roller Derby, member of Team Taiwan Roller Derby's World Cup 2025 Training Team

Meet Our Team! ✨StreetFLASHer✨ #4 is an assistant professor of cultural anthropology who jams for Blue Ridge Roller Derby—aspiring to skate like a bolt of lightning.

Flash grew up in NYC, the child of immigrant parents, and never played any sports before joining roller derby in 2022.

Being a competitive person with a brain for efficiency, strategy, and planning means that the highly physical and intellectual sport of roller derby was a perfect fit. Athletics is her "happy place," but she also wants you to know that she can probably beat you at Roshambo...

#teamtaiwan #rdwc2025

Mom's connection to Team Taiwan is an emotional one. Mom is 100% native Atayal/Tayal, was one of the last private adoptions from the island, and has never been back or sought out family ties. This team helps Mom to start feeling more connected to their people, their place, and their original home.

Yermoms Favorite currently plays for @rosecityrollers.bsky.social , has skated for a few different teams, and loves to skate wherever and whenever. This mama to a dancing teenager is "so, so, so excited to skate in the World Cup and all it allows me to do and experience! How can that be topped?"

Yermoms Favorite #9 of Rose City Rollers, member of Team Taiwan Roller Derby's World Cup 2025 Training Team

Meet Our Team! ✨ Yermoms Favorite ✨ (any/all) is a blocker whose derby career started 14 years ago as "Psycho BITCH," #Tech 9. Mom is a huge Tech N9ne fan, uses his music to get hyped up before games, and wants to channel that same drive, passion, aggression, and pure force into their derby persona.

You can find Shenanigans playing video games, immersed in nature, creating arts and crafts. She wishes everyone to "Be kind, be weird, and support your local roller derby leagues!"

We have a few spots left on our roster! Apply to skate, coach, or volunteer with us!
#teamtaiwan #wftda #rollerderby